) that established Polynesian cuisine (and more importantly — drinks) as de rigueur in the 1950s and '60s. The Luau produced some of the most beautiful and highly desired serveware objects (designed by Gabe Florian) to come out of midcentury Polynesian restaurants.

There is no connection between this historic restaurant and a newer restaurant that briefly operated with the same name

Comments

My father "Don" was the head matradee and greeted and seated the guests at "The LUAU". I washed dishes there back in 1963-64 as a teenager. The manager was a man named "Colombo". I have great autographs from that time. Some of my autoraphs include, Yvonne De Carlo, George Raft, Ernie Kovacs, Alan Shepard (First manned space flight), Tommy Sands, Debbie Reynolds, Gordon Cooper (astronaut), Sandy Koufax, Grocho, Leo Derocher, Johnny Padres, and several others. ( Please excuse my spelling) Beautiful place to dine in those days. Also working with me were George and Eli as maintenance and dishwashers. They were teenagers as well. On the weekends we would go to work and deail and clean the restruant. Most of the cheefs were Chinesse, and trully were gourmay cooks. Ben was the head bartender, and I recently worked with his daughter Mary at a high school. 17 years ago when I met Mary at the school, we would reminisce about those days. Mary and I would play together as kids, when our dads would take us to work. Small world. The address waas 421 N. Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills. I passed the location several years ago, and was sad to see that it is now a parking lot. Great memories! Thanks for reading my post......Don Jr.

Comments about The Luau

My father "Don" was the head matradee and greeted and seated the guests at "The LUAU". I washed dishes there back in 1963-64 as a teenager. The manager was a man named "Colombo". I have great autographs from that time. Some of my autoraphs include, Yvonne De Carlo, George Raft, Ernie Kovacs, Alan Shepard (First manned space flight), Tommy Sands, Debbie Reynolds, Gordon Cooper (astronaut), Sandy Koufax, Grocho, Leo Derocher, Johnny Padres, and several others. ( Please excuse my spelling) Beautiful place to dine in those days. Also working with me were George and Eli as maintenance and dishwashers. They were teenagers as well. On the weekends we would go to work and deail and clean the restruant. Most of the cheefs were Chinesse, and trully were gourmay cooks. Ben was the head bartender, and I recently worked with his daughter Mary at a high school. 17 years ago when I met Mary at the school, we would reminisce about those days. Mary and I would play together as kids, when our dads would take us to work. Small world. The address waas 421 N. Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills. I passed the location several years ago, and was sad to see that it is now a parking lot. Great memories! Thanks for reading my post......Don Jr.

The original Luau was incredible and I'm so thrilled Critiki is
here. Don't let this new Luau fool you. Critiki is bringing back
the original Luau that I loved. You never new who you would be hanging out with and it is a hang out. One day it would be Fleetwood Mac and Mel Brooks the next day Rod Stewart. It's so cozy and and a polynesian "Cheers" where you feel so comfortable.
The food and drinks are fab! Steve Crane is a genius. I still have original Luau matches!

Hi marinermc - This is the 1950s restaurant run by Steve Crane, it was on Rodeo Drive. It was a legendary part of the uprising of upscale Polynesian Pop restaurants in the middle of the last century, along with Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. It's been gone for a long, long time now.

There is a new restaurant being opened soon in Beverly Hills, also called "Luau" but with no connection to this historic restaurant. Early reports are that it's not going to have much in the way of flotsam-and-jetsam bedecked Polynesian Pop in the way Critiki users love. Instead, it's going to be more sleek, modern and Asian-inspired. And expensive. You can learn more about the new "Luau" in this thread on Tiki Central.